Roman blind assembly

ABSTRACT

An improved Roman blind assembly is disclosed. The Roman blind assembly consists of a fabric screen having opposite first and second sides and opposite first and second ends. A plurality of parallel roman bars are mounted horizontally to the first side of the fabric screen between the first and second ends of the screen. A lowermost roman bar is mounted to the screen near the first end of the screen and a pair of parallel support cords are mounted to the lowermost roman bar. A roller clutch assembly is mounted to the first side of the fabric screen adjacent the second end of the screen. The support cords are coupled to the clutch assembly and the clutch assembly is adapted to raise and lower the cords. Each of the support cords pass through an elongated opening in the screen, said openings positioned adjacent the second end of the screen. After exiting the openings, the cords pass along the second side of the screen. Each cord is slidingly attached to each roman bar.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of US provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/695,011 filed Jun. 30, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to assemblies for constructing roman blinds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roman blinds are a common and popular type of blind. The traditional roman blind generally found in the market consists of a substantially flat sheet of fabric which is mounted to a plurality of parallel horizontal bars suspended from at least one pair of suspension cords. The suspension cords are suspended from a head assembly, which controls the lifting and lowering of the suspension cords. Lifting or lowering the suspension cords causes the bars to lift and lower, thereby drawing up the fabric screen or lowering it. As the blind is lifted, the parallel horizontal bars form the fabric sheet into a series of horizontal folds. These horizontal folds of fabric are quite decorative and add to the appeal of roman blinds. The roman blind assembly usually includes two pairs of suspension cords, a first pair of suspension cords for suspending the bars and holding them in parallel horizontal alignment and a second (or lifting) pair of suspension cords for lifting and lowering the blind. The second pair of suspension cords are usually only attached to lowermost horizontal bar. The head assembly usually includes a locking pulley system for selectively locking the second pair of suspension cords between a fully raised position wherein the lifting cords are fully raised and a fully lowered position wherein the lifting cords are fully lowered. The locking pulley system generally includes a pair of pull cords which can be grasped by the user to selectively raise and lower the lift cords. Oftentimes, the pull cords are extensions of the lift cords themselves.

Roller blinds are another type of blind which is quite popular in the market. Roller blinds generally consist of a fabric sheet which is wound onto to a cylindrical head assembly. The cylindrical head assembly generally consists of an elongated cylinder upon which the fabric screen is wound, a clutch mechanism mounted to the ends of the cylinder for controlling the rotation of the cylinder and a pair of brackets for suspending the cylinder and clutch assembly. There are two general types of clutch assemblies used in roller blinds. The first type is a simple spring loaded clutch mechanism which permits the user to lower the blind by simply pulling down on the fabric screen. Pulling the fabric screen down causes the cylinder to rotate and thereby wind the spring mechanism. Lifting the blind is accomplished by simply grasping onto the fabric sheet and pulling down on the sheet slightly to release the lock and then letting the spring mechanism lift the fabric sheet by winding it onto the cylinder.

The second type of clutch assembly consists of a loop of cord mounted onto a pulley mechanism. Pulling on one side of the loop causes the pulley mechanism to rotate the cylinder to lift the blind and pulling on the other side of the loop causes the pulley mechanism to rotate the cylinder to lower the blind. This pulley type of clutch mechanism is very popular because it allows for a precise control of the lifting and lowering of the blind.

Roller blinds, while popular, lack the esthetic appeal and appearance found in roman blinds. A blind assembly which provides the aesthetic appeal of a roman blind assembly while providing the easy of use of a roller blind assembly would be popular.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a Roman blind assembly consisting of a fabric screen having opposite first and second sides and opposite first and second ends. A plurality of parallel roman bars are mounted horizontally to the first side of the fabric screen between the first and second ends of the screen. A lowermost roman bar is mounted to the screen adjacent the first end of the screen and a pair of parallel support cords are mounted to the lowermost roman bar. A roller clutch assembly is mounted to the first side of the fabric screen adjacent the second end of the screen, the support cords being coupled to the clutch assembly. The clutch assembly is adapted and configured to raise and lower the cords. Each of the support cords pass through an elongated opening in the screen, said openings positioned adjacent the second end of the screen. After exiting the openings, the cords pass along the second side of the screen. Each cord is slidingly attached to each roman bar.

It is another object of the invention to provide a Roman blind assembly as described in the previous paragraph wherein the clutch assembly includes an elongated tube having opposite ends with the support cords being attached to the tube midway between the opposite ends. The clutch assembly being configured to raise and lower the support cords by winding and unwinding the cords onto the tube by turning the tube in a first and second direction, respectively. The elongated openings being oriented in a parallel relationship with the roman bars.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a roman blind assembly as described in the previous paragraph wherein the blind further includes a pair of elongated grommets mounted to screen immediately adjacent to the elongated openings, each grommet reinforcing one of the openings.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a roman blind assembly as described in the previous paragraph wherein the elongated openings and the elongated grommets are oblong in shape.

With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a front view of a roman blind assembly made in accordance with the present invention with the valence portion removed.

FIG. 2. is a back view of the roman blind assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3. is a side view of the roman blind assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4. is a front view of a roman blind assembly made in accordance with the present invention showing the screen partly elevated.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring firstly to FIG. 1, the present invention consists of a roman blind assembly, shown generally as item 10 which is made of several components, namely a fabric screen 12, a roller assembly 14, suspension brackets 16 and 18, upper member 25, draw cords 20 and 22, roman bars 24, lower bar 26 and drawstring 28. Roman blind assembly 10 is mounted over a window (not shown) by mounting upper member 25 to the window frame (not shown).

Fabric screen 12 is a flexible fabric screen which has opposite sides 30 and 32, side 30 facing forward (i.e. away from the window) and side 32 facing outward (i.e. towards the window). Roman bars 24 are adhered to surface 30 of fabric screen 12 by means known generally in the art such as, for example, by adhesive. Roman bars 24 are arranged in parallel along screen 12. Fabric screen 12 has a lower end 27. Lowermost roman bar 26 is mounted to surface 30 of screen 12 adjacent lower end 27.

Roller assembly 14 consists of an elongated tube 34 mounted to clutch mechanism 36. Clutch mechanism 36 includes a drawstring 28 which, when pulled, causes the clutch mechanism to rotate elongated tube 34 about its axis. Clutch mechanism 36 includes a locking mechanism which is configured to hold tube 34 in a fixed position until drawstring 28 is pulled. Drawstring 28 is a loop of beaded cord which intermeshes with clutch mechanism 36 such that the user may cause tube 34 to rotate about its axis in either direction depending on which side of the drawstring loop is pulled. Suitable clutch mechanisms are available in the market.

Elongated tube 34 consists of a substantially cylindrical tube having an elongated groove 38. Stopper 40 is retained in groove 38. Stopper 40 physically couples the ends of draw cords 20 and 22 to the center of tube 34. Draw cords 20 and 22 are each attached to lowermost roman bar 26. To draw up the blind, the user simply pulls on drawstring 28, which in turn causes tube 34 to rotate causing the draw cords 20 and 22 to be wound upon the tube thereby lifting up lowermost roman bar 26.

Referring now to FIG. 3, fabric screen 12 has a top end 15 which is attached to upper member 25 by means known generally in the art. Valance 48 is provided in front of roller assembly 14 to provide a decorative appearance to the blind. Valance 48 is formed from an elongated sheet of screen 13 mounted to upper member 25 and roman bar 50. Screen 13 is identical to screen 12 apart from size and roman bar 50 is substantially identical to roman bar 24. Screen 13 may simply be a continuation of screen 12 which passes over upper member 25 and is held in place by roman bar 52 which is tacked or fastened to upper member 25. In this arrangement, portion 54 of fabric screen 12 will lie on top of upper member 25. Portion 54 may be adhered to upper member 25 by means of adhesive, tacks, nails or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, draw chords 20 and 22 are retained onto roman bars 24 by means of loop fasteners 42. Loop fasteners 42 mount onto the back of roman bars 24 to enable the draw chords to pass behind fabric screen 12. Loop fasteners 42 are preferably simple eye screws which may be screwed into the backs of roman bars 24. As best seen in FIG. 2, fasteners 42 have opening 43 dimensioned to permit the draw chords to pass through. Cords 20 and 22 are not fixed to loop fasteners, but simply pass through them. As mentioned above, the draw cords are attached to roller assembly 14. Since roller assembly 14 is mounted in front of fabric screen 12, they must pass through the fabric screen in order to mount to the loop fasteners. Elongated openings 44 provide a passage thorough which the draw cords may pass from the roller assembly to loop fasteners 42. Openings 44 are each protected by grommet 45.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, pulling drawstring 28 causes elongated tube 34 to roll up cords 20 and 22 which in turn causes bar 26 to be drawn up. Since all of the roman bars are slidingly attached to cords 20 and 22 when bar 26 is drawn up, it abuts the next roman bar 24 causing the roman bar to be drawn up along with bar 26. As bar 26 is drawn up further, the next roman bar is carried upwardly. The portion of fabric screen 12 positioned between the roman bars is forced to form horizontal folds along the roman bars as the roman bars are progressively drawn up. Since cords 20 and 22 pass behind screen 12, the fabric folds formed as the screen is drawn up are oriented towards the front of the screen.

As cords 20 and 22 are wound onto tube 34, the portion of the cords coming off the tube moves horizontally across the tube. To ensure that the cords wrap neatly around tube 34, openings 44 and 46 are oblong or elliptical in shape, permitting the cords to move back and forth horizontally as cords 20 and 22 are wound onto and off tube 34. Essentially, each of the openings 44 and 46 have a length greater than its width (i.e. oblong) and are oriented parallel to the roman bars 24. Grommets 45 are elongated (oblong) and permit the cords to move horizontally across openings 44 and 46 without rubbing against fabric 12, thereby preventing the cords from being tangled. It will be appreciated that if openings 44 and 46 were simple circular apertures instead of oblong apertures, then at some point during the raising and lowering motion cords 20 and 22 would enter the apertures at an angle causing the cords to rub against the peripheral edge of the apertures. If the cords rub against the peripheral edge of the aperture then the amount of friction applied to the cord will increase, causing the clutch mechanism to operate with more resistance. Also, the cord rubbing on the peripheral edge of the apertures will eventually cause the cords to wear. By providing oblong apertures, the cords may move horizontally in order to maintain a vertical orientation, thereby decreasing the amount of friction applied to the cord.

As is evident form FIGS. 1 and 4, stopper 40 is positioned at the center of tube 34 between cords 20 and 22. Preferably, cords 20 and 22 are actually formed from one continuous cord which is secured to tube 34 by stopper 40. If stopper 40 has an aperture through which the cord passes freely, then cords 20 and 22 will always remain at the same length, thereby enabling lower bar 26 to always remain level as the blind is raised or lowered.

The present invention has many advantages over the prior art. Firstly, the overall construction is simplified since there are only two suspension cords which must be attached to the fabric screen. Secondly, both the valance and the main screen are formed from a single continuous sheet of fabric. Furthermore, the invention allows for the smooth and easy raising and lowering of the screen due to oblong openings 44 and 46. Finally, the use of a draw string clutch mechanism to raise and lower the screen permits the selective raising and lowering of the blind without the need for additional drawstrings.

A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed; however, several variations of the disclosed embodiment could be envisioned as within the scope of this invention. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A Roman blind assembly comprising: a) a fabric screen having opposite first and second sides and opposite first and second ends, b) a plurality of parallel roman bars mounted horizontally to the first side of the fabric screen between the first and second ends of the screen, c) a lowermost roman bar mounted to the screen adjacent the first end of the screen, d) a pair of parallel support cords mounted to the lowermost roman bar, e) a roller clutch assembly mounted to the first side of the fabric screen adjacent the second end of the screen, the support cords being coupled to the clutch assembly, the clutch assembly adapted and configured to raise and lower the cords, f) the support cords each passing through an elongated opening in the screen, said openings positioned adjacent the second end of the screen, the cords passing along the second side of the screen, each cord being slidingly attached to each roman bar.
 2. The roman blind assembly of claim 1 wherein the roller clutch assembly comprises an elongated tube having opposite ends, the support cords being coupled to the elongated tube midway between the opposite ends, the clutch assembly configured to raise the cords by turning the tube in a first direction to wind the cords on to the tube and to lower the cords by turning the tube in a second direction to unwind the cords from the tube, each of the elongated openings being oriented substantially parallel to the roman bars.
 3. The roman blind assembly of claim 2 further comprising a pair of elongated grommets attached to the sheet adjacent the elongated openings, each grommet reinforcing one of the elongated openings, the grommets being oriented parallel to the roman bars.
 4. The roman blind assembly of claim 3 wherein the elongated openings and grommets are oblong in shape. 